Spring structure



Nov. 24, 1931. T. C.,PROUTY SPRING STRUCTURE Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

Nov, 24, 1931. T. 5. PROUTY SPRING STRUCTURE Filed June 27. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 24, 1931. T. c. PRQUTY SPRING STRUCTURE Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. w M V m A TTORNE Y.

. Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- THEODORE G. PROUTY, OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA; WILLIS O. ZPROUT'Y AD- MINISTRATOR OF SAID THEODORE C. PROUIY, DECEASED SPRING STRUCTURE Application filed June 27, 1927. Serial No. 201,805.

7 My invention is an improved spring and assemblage thereof for bedsteads, furniture, automobile seats and any other purpose requiring a similar yielding structure. Among 5 the advantages of my improvement are simplicity of construction, great durability and uniformity in the resiliencey of all parts of the structure, due in part to the use of a large number of closely spaced resilient elements.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective-view of one form,

of one of the springs together with part of the supports therefor.

Figure 2 is a plan view on a reduced. scale, partly broken away to exhibit the structure of a bedstead equipped with a bed-spring formed from an assemblage of springs such as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figures 4% and 5 are fragmentary plan views showingparts of bedsteads equipped with bed-springs made up of individual springs similar to that shown in Figure 1 but arranged differently from the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure is a perspective View of a spring similar in principle of action to that shown in Figure 1 but constructed of wire and each spring unit made up of two sections and having four points of support instead of two as in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a plain view of a part of a bedspring formed from units similar to that shown in Figure 7 Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structure shown in plan in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of part of a bed-spring formed from units similar to that shown in Figure 7 but with the sections of the individual springs held together by connecting members instead of being twisted together as in the form shown in Figure 7 Figure 11 is a plan view of part of a bedspring formed from the spring units shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of springs of a modified form.

Figure 13 is a plan view of part of a bedspring made up of the spring units shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a connecting link used to connect together the bars upon which the springs are supported.

I will describe my invention in its application to a bed-spring. The use of the invention for other purposes involves the same general forms of construction adapted to the ,Iarticular requirements of different uses. As applied to a bedstead the supporting members are a series of bars 1 extending transversely of the bed frame and resting on the side bars 2 thereof. With some of the as se-mblagcs of sprin shown longitudinal supporting bars 3, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, will also be necessary.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 each spring unit 4 consists of a strip of spring metal, steel preferably, having oppositely wound coils at its ends, each coil supported at its center on one of the bars 1 or 3. The bars are preferably tubular and triangular with the base shorter than the equal sides. The bars rest upon the narrow sides at the base of the triangular section. The ends 01"" the springs may be bent to conform to the upper angles 01" the bars as indicated in Figure 1 or may otherwise engage the bars for support. The width of the strips of which the springs are formed is sufficient to prevent them from tilting sidewise in use. In Figure 2 I have shown all 01 the springs 4; disposed lengthwise oi the bed, engaging alternate pairs of the bars 1. In Figure i I have shown both transverse supporting bars 1 and longitudinal supporting bars 3 with pairs of springs 6 disposed lengthwise of the. bed alternating with pairs 7 extending sidewise. In Figure 5 I show the springs extending in rows cross-wise of the bed, in alternate rows the individual springs being arranged respectively lengthwise and sidewise of the bed. Side elevations of the assemblages represented in Figures and 4c are shown in Figures 3 and 6.

The spring unit shown in Figure 7 consists of two sections of spring wire, each section coiled at the ends, and the two sections united by being twisted together at 7, and the inner ends of the coils supported at the points 8 upon the bars 1. In this form each spring unit has four points of support. Figures 8 and 9 exhibit assemblages of spring units of the type shown in Figure 7. Figures 10 11 show a structure isil nila r to that shown in Figures 7 to 9 but differing in that the sections of each spring unit are held together by separate members, 9, instead of being twisted together.

In the structures shown in Figures 1 to 9 the spring units are supported at the centers of the coils and the load acts in the lane of the coils, the centers of the springs e ng restrained against rotation about the rodsin which they are supported. ar-

ranged in F igi'ire Q2 furnish a larger number of points of resistanceto the load than the arrangement shown in; Figures '8 and 11 but each of the spring units shown in Figures '8 and 11 affords a broader area of support owing to the meeting of the two sections of which the unit is formed.

rigures e and 13 are views in elevation and plan showing double spring units differing iroin tha't shown in Figure 7 in that the spring units are supported at their ends 11 with the coils, 1 0, b'etwc'en'the points of support 11, a'ndthe area 12 at which the load is carried, v i I Among the advantages of. the spring structure herein described is thej'fact that when used as a bed-spring no 'rigidputer frame is necessary, it bei necessary rely to connect the supportingbars by some form of link that will keep them properly spaced; I have "shown such a link 15 in Figure 1 4, one end, 16, being bent downwardly and passed through perforations. through the apex and base of, the supporting bar 1 and headed over at 1 7 while th'e opposite end is formed into an eye 18 that encircles the adjoining bar The parts 16 of the links are between the eyelets 18-and the ends of the bars 1 and thereby serve as keeper's to hold the eyelets in place. A bed-s ring so constructed needs noouter frame, the load being transmitted directly from th ends of the bars 1 to the side rails 2 of the bedstead. as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5. :l/Vlien the spring units are assembled as shownin' Figure 2 the entire bed-spring can he rolled up for transportation and handling. An ad ditiohal advantage, of iny improved bed;

units to make a softer and more-yieldingspring structure: 1 Likewise the springunits maybe spaced closely at the parts whichbear the greatest Weight and-farther apart helical springs are used. The use of fiat coils carrying the load the plane of the coils as in my iniproved str'ucture renders it possible to use a larger numberof spring units and thereby to support the load at a greater number of points ith less resistance at each point. 7 A relatively thin pad liaidfoven my improved bed-spring serves to effectually distribute the resistance of the separate pring units and to torn; 'asmooth uniformly resi's'tant surface, thereby rendering a thick and heavy mattress unnecessary.

" rel-aim; H I

1. bed-spring comprising series of supporting bars adapted to rest at their ends upon the rails of a bedstead, a plurality of independent spring units, 'e'ach unit coinstructure to be folded upon itself and tospace porting bars adapted to rest at their ends upon the rails of a bedstead, and a plurality of independent spring units, e'achunit being formed of resilientmaterial and; having at each end, a flat spiral coil a number of spaced turns, the turns in each spiral being spac'ed'from the preceding turns, the inner ends fof each coi'lbeing connected to "a corresponding shpportiiig' bar, and the outer ends of the last turn connected by a resilient member forming a load sustaining bow ni erginginto theendsof the last turnsof the coils with an uninterrupted continuity; and the respective axes of the spirals being spaced apart and parallel,

In testimony whereof; I has salsa-lead H13 name. H ya:

' THEODORE c. PROUTY; 

